California attorney ordered to pay restitution to non-client for real estate misconduct

California Supreme Court ordered attorney Thomas John Spielbauer to pay over $500,000 in restitution to a non-client for real estate misconduct, rejecting the state bar review department's earlier conclusion that he was not liable. The court clarified that restitution can be mandated in attorney discipline cases even when the injured party is not a client, while Spielbauer's attorney criticized the ruling as harmful to the legal profession.